We’re only just over a quarter of the way through the Arabian Gulf League season, but lose in the Al Clasico on Friday night and Al Jazira could already be out of the title race.
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Jazira fans hoping for their title dreams to blossom with the return of club hero Abel Braga in the summer could instead see them consigned to the dirt with defeat in the Garden City. The Pride of Abu Dhabi already trail the league leaders and reigning champions by seven points.
A third defeat of the season at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium would leave them 10 behind Zlatko Dalic’s side and already relying on an extremely unlikely implosion from the Boss, winners of three of the last four AGL crowns.
Hope sprang eternal this summer that the 2015-16 campaign would see Jazira go closer to the title than in any season since Braga last steered them to top spot in 2011. But the team the Brazilian took charge of is very different to the one he left four years ago.
Yes, some players remain, but the double-winning 2011 vintage had a very different set of strengths. Jazira have always been the AGL’s great entertainers, no more so than last season when they scored 66 goals, the second highest tally in the last 10 seasons. Their problem is that they simply cannot defend.
Five seasons ago they backed up an impressive 64 goals with the league’s second best defensive record. Although they have retained their status among the AGL’s highest scorers, they have become porous at the back.
In each of the seasons following Braga’s departure, Jazira finished with the sixth, fourth and seventh best defence. Last season their 46 goals conceded ranked them 12th in the UAE – only relegated Ajman and Ittihad Kalba conceded more. Out went Eric Gerets and back in came the 63-year-old Braga.
Still, the old problems remain. Jazira have scored 10 goals in two wins, two defeats and two draws this season, but have conceded 11. And if 2015-16 is to avoid going the same way as previous false dawns, then you get the feeling that a corner must be turned on Friday night.
In theory a win at the home of their great rivals could be just what sparks their season. It would inject a huge amount of confidence and belief, but Jazira have been in similar territory already this season.
Leading 2-0 in the 74th minute against Al Wahda in the Abu Dhabi derby on September 18, Sebastian Tagliabue’s brace drew the Clarets level before the end.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time Yaser Matar’s rocket gave Braga’s men a dramatic victory and looked as if it would be the wake-up call they needed. However, they followed that with a 4-2 defeat at newly-promoted and previously winless Dibba Al Fujairah, while they have failed to win in four games in all competitions since.
Elsewhere, other teams look better equipped to challenge Al Ain for honours. AFC Champions League finalists Al Ahli have put a nightmare 2014-15 season behind them and are the only AGL team still boasting a 100 per cent record.
After the debacle of sacking Jose Peseiro, Al Wahda have recruited well. Bani Yas’ decision to back Luis Garcia is finally bearing fruit, while Al Nasr, Al Wasl and Al Shabab all lie ahead of Jazira in the table. If the Boss can put Jazira in their place on Friday night then they will have one less title contender to worry about.
